After asking a little boy to suck his tongue, the Dalai Lama is being called a predator and abuser. First, his camp called the exchange “playful” but now apologies have been issued. Is this a traditional greeting that’s being misunderstood or is it a tradition that needs to end? The Dalai Lama is a highly respected spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who has been a symbol of peace and nonviolence for decades. He has been praised for his teachings on compassion and advocacy for environmental protection. But he’s also faced criticism for his views on women’s rights and homosexuality. Tibetan supporters say that sticking out the tongue is a traditional greeting from the 9th century and are blaming Chinese propagandists for making the moment go viral. Others are asking for accountability and that this behavior shouldn’t be overlooked for anyone, even spiritual leaders.

Arundhati Roy is Syrian-Bengali, stars in award-winning films and wrote a prize-winning bestseller. She’s known for being involved in social and political movements in India and around the world. But did you know she was also an aerobics instructor and cake saleswoman? Best known for her novel "The God of Small Things," Roy has written numerous nonfiction books and essays. She’s criticized the Indian government’s policies, written on environmental issues, and has been put in jail for her political views. Before all this, Arundhati was a nature-loving kid from an inter-caste and single parent family. She grew up being treated like she was “unconventional” or an “outsider”. She lived in a slum with her first husband, while they were students. And she even sold cake on the beaches of Goa. Arundhati is limitless and uncontainable!

Itikaf, the Islamic tradition of embracing solitude and spiritual reflection, happens in Ramadan's last 10 days. This year, like many before, Palestinians have been attacked in a moment of worship. Israeli security forces raided Al Aqsa–a holy site for Muslims and Jews. Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in the Old City of Jerusalem, where violence has taken place several times. The assault resulted in 400 people arrested and 158 others injured. Israel first claimed there was an agreement violation, but have now banned Jewish visitors from entering the site until the end of Ramadan. 2023 has already seen 88 Palestinians and 16 Israelies killed.

Akhir tahun lalu, beberapa kejadian mengejutkan terjadi di berbagai daerah di Asia. Kejadian-kejadian ini melibatkan kerumunan yang gagal dikendalikan dan ujungnya, beberapa orang kehilangan nyawanya. Mengapa kejadian ini banyak terjadi di negara-negara Asia, dan bagaimana kita dapat menjaga diri kita di keramaian?

Was the brutal interrogation of TikTok execs by the US Congress really about TikTok? Or was sinophobia at play? After 4.5 hours of questioning, TikTok's Singaporean CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has become an unlikely hero to Gen Z audiences. While Congress raised concerns about foreign entities exploiting social media platforms for political and strategic gain, they really seemed focused on sharing their own tough stances on China. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is being considered a national security threat because of the app’s potential to collect and share user data with the Chinese government. While lawmakers are known to be tough on tech CEOs, this questioning process seemed more than relentless–almost Sinophobic. Sinophobia, a prejudice and hostility towards China, its people, and its culture, has been on the rise in recent years–especially amid geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2022 PEW Research study, among the U.S. public overall, around eight-in-ten express an unfavorable opinion of China.

Phirack Mao escaped the Cambodian genocide as a baby, and now lives in Oklahoma as a donut shop owner and sheriff. Growing up in Long Beach, Cali, Phirack lived amongst gang violence, discrimination, and was kicked out of his home as a teen. This is how he reclaimed his life. Oklahoma has a small population of Asians,–only 800 or so of the 4 million population are Cambodians like Phirack. Fourteen years ago, Phirack became a donut shop owner, and a couple years after that, he became a sheriff. Unable to enjoy his childhood because of prevalent gang culture and a strict father, Phirack joined law enforcement to make a difference in his small community in Sulphur, OK, where he finally found belonging. As a father of three, Phirack’s main goal is to provide his children with the life that he wasn’t able to have. But these goals stem from pain in his own relationship with his father, the only member of his family that made it out alive with him. Today, Phirack loves and respects his father but still has a hard time building that relationship.